'Dexter' Recap: Deb Goes Over The Edge Again In 'Scar Tissue'

Note: Do not read on if you have not yet seen Season 8, Episode 4 of Showtime's "Dexter," titled "Scar Tissue."

It doesn't get more bizarrely, out-of-nowhere-climactic than Deb grabbing the steering wheel of Dexter's car and driving into a lake.

The shocking moment was reminiscent of another crazy fourth episode of a Showtime drama: when Carrie went rogue on "Homeland," storming into Brody's hotel room and forcing the CIA to arrest him. Both felt like insane moments that wouldn't have been out of place in a season finale, giving the characters and action a jolt at the end of the season's first act.

Then again, some might see Deb driving into the lake as another example of "Dexter" jumping the shark. And let us know in the comments where you fall on that issue.

It would have been one thing if Deb went through with it. But in her latest display of conflicted decision-making, she saved him. Maybe this means they can forgive each other now and become the brother and sister accomplices they were meant to be.

Deb seems to have made her choice now, right? You've got to think that climactic, conflicted gesture was the last gasp of her frustrating cycle of guilt and self-destructive shame. Another crisis of conscience would just seem too ridiculous at this point.

Other thoughts from the episode:

Quinn would probably make the worst sergeant ever, but what if he ends up being the one who figures out that Dexter is the Bay Harbor Butcher by the show's end? His connection with Deb could lead him down that path.

We finally got some insight into Dr. Vogel's unconventional methods that have perversely created the Brain Surgeon. It seems clear that she has experimented with removing parts of her patients' brains to manipulate their behavior. The patient coming after her, A.J. Yates, we think, is getting his revenge by doing that to his victims. And he looks like a formidable adversary, with a "Silence of the Lambs"-y underground dungeon and a surveillance security system. Dexter saved the girl he had stabbed and was holding hostage, but the guy heard all of Dexter and Vogel's phone conversation, so he knows they're on his trail now.

Speaking of Dr. Vogel, her arc may have also reached a crescendo after her falling out with Dexter. Like most overbearing spiritual mothers of vigilante serial killers, she pushed too hard, and Dexter pushed her away. She gave Dexter and Deb some good therapy, but Dexter flipped after he saw she was taking notes on their sessions. Regardless, Deb's check is probably still in the mail for that breakthrough via driving her brother's car into a lake.

What did you think of this episode? Leave your thoughts and theories in the comments.